LIFE FALKON spreads its wings towards preserving the Lesser Kestrel and the biodiversity of agro-ecosystems!

On October 1st “The research on the Lesser Kestrel in the Po Valley: the results of the campaigns LIFE FALKON 2018-2021” was held in Milan at the Expo Hall of the Research Area of the “Consiglio Nazionale della Ricerca” (CNR).

The event focused on the presentation of the latest research carried out within the LIFE FALKON project, including an open debate to discuss achieved results and ongoing progress. 

The conference was opened by the project manager Michelangelo Morganti (CNR), who introduced to the participants, the genesis and the objectives of the LIFE FALKON project, and enclosed  the  participation of Fondazione Cariplo, one of the funders  of the project.

One session of the conference was dedicated to the presentation of the conservation actions carried out within the LIFE FALKON project, including the research and design of different models of nest boxes and nesting towers. After, the results of the monitoring on the effectiveness of these actions were presented

The research on the Lesser Kestrel in the Po Valley: the results of the campaigns LIFE FALKON 2018-2021” was held in Milan at the Expo Hall

October was a very big month for the project also because on the 22 and 23 October the LIFE FALKON project officially opened three out of the five nesting towers of the Po Plain project areas. 

First the two towers of Poggio Rusco (Mantua) were opened, with the participation of LIFE FALKON, the Major of Poggio Rusco dr. Fabio Zacchi and the farmers that own the terrains. The towers have been dedicated to the memory of two personalities of nature research and conservation: the professor Nicola Saino and the partisan and environmentalist Laura Conti.

Then, LIFE FALKON opened a tower in Mirandola, erected in the wonderful landscape of the SPA ‘Valli Mirandolesi’ and is dedicated to the ornithologist Michele Panuccio, will be managed by LIFE FALKON in collaboration with ASOER, and the SOM (Stazione Ornitologica Modenese). 

Special guest of the ceremony, a Little Owl (Athene noctua), which choosed the tower as a shelter from the cold winter days.

[Photo credit LIFE FALKON website